The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-01-29

unWlSely engrafted some ld0latrOuS no
lions into its code of doctrines. This
obscured its light, and brought mental
and moral darkness into its ranks, re-
sulting in the ''dark ages" But heather
and Christian ideas cannot flourish to-
gether. The darkness of the former
obscures the light of the latter, but
light is more potent than darkness, and
its power is now being felt and seen.
The dark and the dismal in theology
are being expelled by the bright and
joyous, which is the real and the true.
The battle has been long and fierce, but
the victory is certain. The power of
the Omnipotent is with the loving and
the right, and ignorance and sin in the
Jewish aud GENTLE minds must give
place to the blessedness of gospel truth.
From the twelve chosen apostles who
were converted to Christ's religion af-
ter his crucifxion has spread abroad
through the different nations in eighteen
hundred years, all that is known of the
Christian church. A large portion of
the whole world is worshiping at the
feet Of Jesus. As alarmingly as the
Christian church has been corrupted,
its progress has no equal in history,
All through its wanderings among the
nations, it has had more or less of the
words and spirit of life in it. 1t has
had live God, however forbidding his
character has been represented. 1t has
also had live Saviour in Jesus Christ,
however erroneous have been the con-
captions of him. This has had marked
influence on the prosperity of the visi-
BILE church, as the great Source of all
worlds is ever living and ever present.
There can be no death in the Divine
Ruler and Creator of the world. And
as the Christian church is of God, it
must be endless in its nature. 1t must
always live and operate in the minds of
Gods children, as He will always live
with it.
Let us take an illustration from the
fatherhood of God, of the endless life
of the words of Christ. He has taught
us without distinction of race or nation,
to pray to God as our Father in heaven.
This is proof that God is the Father of
all mankind, and consequently loves all.
His relation, therefore, is as permanent
as his existence. There never was, and
there never will be a time when this
relation will cease. So the word of the
Master will always be true, and always
possess life, and growth in the soul.
At the present time all the nations
and kindreds of the earth do not pray
to the Father, but this fountain is open
for the worship of all, and this door to
the kingdom, and the divine presence
will never be shut in the face of any of
the Fathers great family.
We will seek an application of the
great human brotherhood, by placing
all who have, or may live, before the
Saviour. Ere assures each one that
God is his, or her Father-that nothing
in this, Or any other world can separate
single soul from his infinite love and
care. They believe the words of the
Saviour, and shout in joyous explana-
ton, ''my Father, and my God" The
real life in the words of Jesus warns
their hearts, and they realize the truth
of the universal brotherhood. They all
see that there is no link which can be
taken from the chain which binds all
souls as brothers and sisters in one
great family. Such words quicken the
moral sense, impart new vigor to the
understanding mind, and urge forward
to nobler endeavors.
The little family of an earthly father
appreciates his love for all his children.
Their hearts glow with love for each
other, and find common center in their
father. They all feel their kinship, and
the sweet relation to their father. Their
ideas of their happy brotherhood in
spire confidence, and fill them with
fullness of joy.
This is infinitely more so when we
look at the great Fathers family, and
the purpose he had in their creation, as
He not only made them for the hap
piness of his love in time, but for
all eternity. He made us for life and
immortality. He not only of himself has
immortality, but he gave us immortal
ity in breathing into US the breath of
life, which constituted us his children.
He created us in his image by endow-
ing us with his attributes, to which
Jesus addresses the truths of the gospel.
These attributes are but the analysis
of minds, which are always made glad
by the religion of the Master.
Whocannot see that the Golden Rlle
has its foundation in the universal
brotherhood, and our immortal bless
edness in Christ The command to
love God with all our heart, and our
neighbor as ourselves is based on this
idea. They are both universal in their
requirements, and the blesedness of
Christ's teachings.
Let us for a moment think of all
mankind in ardent love to God as their
heavenly Father. and to all men as their